Seal



Feb. 3, M931. M. E. BEHRMAN SEAL Filed oct..

2 Sheet/s-Sheet 1 INVENTOIMA/MW BY man 'f' a Y l ATTORNE Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE MARCUS B. BEHRMAN, OF BROOKLY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL KLEIN, F

' NEW YORK, N'. Y.

SEAL

Application led October 6, 1928. Serial No. 310,721.

` My present invention relates generally to sealing devices, and has particular reference to a seal designed for employment with a tie member such as that which is associated with a garment tag.

To explain 'the general nature of my invention, I will premise that garment tags are desirably associated with articles of merchandise in a manner which renders them irremovable except by purposeful destruction or mutilation which can be readily detected. Where a tag is provided with a tie member having one or more free ends, such tie 'member may be threaded through a suitable portion of the garment, such` as a buttonhole, and a seal of the present character may then be associated with the tie member to form a closed loop. Y

My invention is ofcourse not limited to an application of the foregoing character, the

proximate purpose of the sealing device being to clamp a tie member or portions thereof in an irremovable manner, regardless of the purposes for which such clamping is desirable. It is a general object of my invention to provide aseal whose construction is exceptionally simple, whose application to a tie member is a mere matter of pinching two portions together, which serves eiciently to clamp the tie member vin the contemplated manner, and whose surreptitious removal without mutilation is rendered exceptionally difiicult, if not entirely impossible.

Brieiy, my seal comprises a pair of normally open hinged jaws constructed to form complementary telescopable portions of a chamber, the jaws being adapted to receive the tie member between them when open and to` clamp said member within said chamber 40 when closed. `In accordance with'my invention, the jaws are automatically locked together in an inseparable manner, with the tie member clamped therebetween, by merelypinching the jaws so as'to cause them to approach one another. It is a particular feas ture of my invention to provide means within the chamber for rendering surreptitious reseparation of the jaws exceptionally diflicult, if not impossible. i For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, `I have constructed two forms of my invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.-

Figure l is a perspective view of a seal embodying the features of my invention and shown in closed position with two ends of a tie member irremovably associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the deviceof Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the seal of Figures 1 and 2 in normal open position; l

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the left hand portion of Figure 4 with the jaws in an adjusted position, showing the impossibility of reseparation;

Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views similar to 70 Figures 1, 2, 4, and-3 respectively, illustrating a modification.

In the form illustrated in Figures 1-5, I have shown two jaws 10 and 11 formed from an integral piece of suitable sheet material, 75 preferably brass or similar metal. The jaws are substantially similar in construction and are opposed to one another so as to form complementary portions of a chamber.

In Figure 3, it will be seen that the jaw 10 comprises a substantially rectangular body portion 12 provided with a peripheral flange extending in the direction of the jaw 11. This flange comprises the two opposite side portions 13 and 14, preferably triangular, and 85 the end portion 15. The side portions 1S and 14 are provided with the outwardly disposed tabs or ears 16 and 17 respectively.

rlhe jaw 11 is provided with the body po tion 18 provided with a similar Vperipheral 9o 'flange whichfjconsists--of the opposite triangular side portions 19 and 2O and the end portion 21. The free edges of the portions 19 and 2O are bent inwardly to provide the inward overhang-s 22 respectively. A

The flange of the jaw 10 is constructed to telescope Within the iange of the jaw 11,l the latter thereby constituting whaty might be termed anouter jawA as distinguished from the inner jaw 10.y

rloo

scoping flanges serving to produce a closed chamber within which the tie member is clamped. The tabs 16 and 17, and the overhangs 22, are resiliently constructed so that the tabs will force their way frictionally beneath the overhangs. The mutual association of the j aws, after they have been closed, is shown most clearly in Figurell wherein it will be noted that the tabs 16 and 17 have automatically engaged beneath the overhangs 22 soas to render it impossible to re-separate the jaws without manipulation o the tabs 16l and 17.

It will be observed that any manipulation aiming, toward a reseparation of the jaws will necessitate two steps. The irst step is illustrated in Figure 5 and consists in pinching the jaws together so as to release the tabs 16 and 17 from enga 'ement with the overhangs 22. The secon step would consist in pinching the flanges 13,and 14 or the tabs 16 and 17 toward each other. In accordance with my invention I render such manipulation ractically impossible by the provision of an a utment within the chamber and behind the tabs 16 and 17. In the embodiment of Figures 1-5, I provide this abutment by means of the integral indenture 25 on the body 18 of the jaw 11. This indentedportion permits thejaws to be locked together, as will be readily understood, but serves to .prevent manipulation of the character herei-nbefore mentioned in any attempt to reseparate the jaws.

In Figures 6-9, I have provided a construction wherein ,the jaws are substantially circular in shape. An inner jaw 26 is provided with abody portion 27, the latter having a circumferential flange 28. The flange 28 is provided with the outwardly disposed tabs 29 arranged around a portion of the periphery.

An outer jaw 30 is provided with a body portion 31 having a peripheral flange 32. The free edge of the latter i-s turned inwardly to provide the overhang 33 extending substantially around the entire periphery.

When the jaws are closed, the tabs 29 will automatically force their way past the overhang 33 and snap into engagement beneath the latter as shown most clearly in Figure 8. To prevent reseparation, the body portion 31 is provided with the indenture 34C which constitutes an abutment arranged in interposition behind the tabs 29.

It will be obvious that changes in the dethese details be interpreted as illustrative, and f not in a limiting sense.

.Having thus described my invention-and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A seal for a tie member, comprising a pair of jaws connected together at one end, each jaw-comprising a bottom portion and a marginal flange portion extending upwardly therefrom and tapering in height from adjacent the lineof connectionof the jaws to the outer end of each jaw to form of the jaws complementary telescopable chambered portions of gradually increasing depth, and means within said chambers for automatically securing the jaws together in an inseparable manner, said means comprising an inward overhang on the marginal flange portion of the outer jaw, an outward tab on the marginal ange portion of the inner jawv adapted to engage beneath said overhang, whereby when the jaws are brought together into telescoping position the inward overhang on the outer jaw will engage beneath the outward tab on the inner jaw to secure the two members against separation, and a depression in the outer jaw presenting a portion closely adjacent said tab so as to prevent manipnlation of the latter, whereby when a tie member is positioned between the jaws 'at their line of connection, and the jaws brought into fully telescoped position, the tie member will be clamped between the jaws and the jaws held against separation.

2. A seal for a tie member comprising an integral blank of bendable sheet material adapted to be doubled upon itself along a medial line to form two substantially rectangular hinged jaw portions, each of said jaw portions having a marginal flange tapering gradually toward said hinge line and terminating vsubstantially at said hinge line, said flanges being adapted to telescope one within vthe other` to close the seal and provide a wedgeshaped chamber of said jaw portions, the outer flange having an inward-overhang, and the inner iiange having an outward tab adaptedI to engage beneath said overhang when said flanges are telescoped, whereby a tie member laid along said hinge line when the seal is open may be clamped within said chamber when the seal is closed; the'jaw carrying the outer flange having an integral inward depression formed therein and adapted to lie within the confines of said inner flange when the seal is closed.

3. A seal for a tie member comprising an integral blank of bendable sheet material adapted to be doubled upon itself along a is closed.

medial line to form two hinged jaw jportions,

each of said jaw portions being substantially circular and having a circumferential flange tapering* gradually toward said hinge line and terminating substantially at said hinge,

line, said flanges being adapted to telescope one within the other to close the sea-1 and provide a wedge-shaped chamber of said jaw portions, the outer flange having an inward overhang, and the inner flange having a plurality of outward tabs adapted to engage beneath said overhang when said flanges are telescoped, whereby a tie member laid along said hinge line when the seal is open may be clamped within said chamber when the seal In witness whereof I have signed this Avspeciicaftion this 5 day of October, 1928.

MARCUS B. BEHRMAN. 

